Doodle is here! She arrived on Saturday afternoon and I met her at the airport in Quepos (after she survived a near death flight). The minute she got off the airplane, I literally ran to her and hugged her and felt a huge comfort settle in. Nothing like having your best friend around.
While you may not have heard much about this, as I mostly fill this blog with the comedy that is my life in Costa Rica, when I came to Costa Rica, I was feeling lost and needing a change. Katie had seen this in me for months prior to my departure, knew that I was feeling sad, and kept trying to help… which she did, tremendously, but while she was there to support me, she couldn’t create happiness for me again.
The thing is, most of my friends never realized I was feeling lost, I am good at being chatty and social and great at leaving things behind at work. But the people who know me, who really know me, knew that there was a lot of sadness hidden behind the laughter.
Coming to Costa Rica has been the best decision I ever made, being in Costa Rica has helped me to find my smile again, and I mean that deep down smile that starts in your heart. I have “found” myself again, found what it is that I want, and what it is that makes me happy…and there is nothing more I could have ever hoped for.
Finding such happiness here has also made me a little scared… worried that when I leave here, I might leave that happiness behind and get back into the same rigorous patterns I had before in San Francisco. I feel so much back to “myself” here that I don’t want to lose that. Accordingly, I have been nervous and stressed out about returning to San Fran…. Well, that was until Doodle arrived.
Having her here has reminded me of all I love in San Francisco, and the life and happiness that I had there for so many years. It has reminded me of the amazing friends I have there, and the amazing city where I live… and what it feels like to have the people who love you the most there to surround you and support you. Having Katie here has made me realize that I am now back to a place where I can embrace that.
You will see a lot more about Doodle’s time in Costa Rica (first have to catch you up on the rest of Clive and Nancy’s visit, my trip to the Caribbean, and Greg’s visit)… because we are having a blast!!! But, I think it is important to say that having her here makes me realize that the happiness I have rediscovered is not a temporary thing… and that I am really back to where I want to be, and that is an amazing feeling.
So, when it hurts to look back, and you're scared to look ahead, invite your best friend to Costa Rica, and you will realize that everything is going to be all right.
Here we are about 10 minutes after we got to my house... couldn't be happier to be back together again after 5 months apart. 
